Board of Trustees Minutes, December 3-13, 1792 [Containing Reports Regarding the Site of the University]: Electronic Edition.University of North Carolina (1793-1962). Board of TrusteesFunding from the University Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel
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Records of the Board of Trustees of the University
of North Carolina (#40001), University Archives, University of North
Carolina at Chapel Hill Board of Trustees Minutes, December 3-13, 1792 [Containing Reports Regarding the Site of the University][University of North Carolina Board of Trustees]22 pages, 22 page images1792Call number 40001 (University Archives, University
of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)

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Board of Trustees Minutes, December 3-13, 1792 [Containing Reports Regarding the Site of the University]

At a meeting of the Trustees of the University of
North Carolina, by adjournment at Newbern; Monday 3rd December 1792.

The resignation of Robert Burton
as Secretary to the board was presented and accepted, whereuponThomas
Rogers was appointed pro. tem.

MrHarget
from the Commissioners appointed by the board at their last Session to view
the Country within 15 miles round Cyprets bridge on Newhope in Chatham County; and to fix on the place
whereon to erect the buildings of the University presented the
following Journal of their proceedings and report which were ordered to be
entered on the journals of this board Viz PittsburgNovr 1st 1792

Sundry Commissioners appointed by the board of Trustees of
the University of
North Carolina to view the Country within
15 miles around from Cyprets
bridge and to fix on the seat of the
University
met according to the order of the board to wit Frederick
Harget, Alexander Mebane, James Hogg,
William
Hill, David Stone, and Willie Jones

November 2nd

Appointed Frederick Harget Chairman proceeded to
view the Gum spring belonging to Philip Merony: also
Matthew
Jones's, John Mentoes, andMatthew Ramsays lands, and
received their proposals.

Sundry Gentlemen of the County of
Chatham offered further donations to the
amount of four hundred and odd pounds (exclusive of
£1302 offered as a donation to the board
at Hillsboro,) provided the
University
was fixed in the Fork of Haw and Deep rivers and
Ambrose
Ramsy, Patrick St LaurenceGeorge
Lucas, Jno Mebane, Zachariah Harman, and Thomas
Stokes guaranteed to the amount of
£1500, they having all the subscriptions
to themselves provided the University was
established in the aforesaid Fork.

November 3rd

Proceeded to view Richard Kennans place and Lassiters Hill
& received the proposals of the respective
proprietors.

Novr 4th

MrDavid Stone absent.

The other Commissioners proceeded toCaptEdwards's and the widow Edwards's places on
the north side of Haw river & recd proposals.

Novr 5th

Viewed Tignal
Jones's place commonly called Parkers, no
proposals were offered by the proprietor: but Tignal Jones
Junr and Robert Cobb
offered a Donation of 500. Acres of land adjoining
to the place.

Willie
Jones handed to the Commissioners an offer of
ColoJoel Lane of 640
acres of land near Nathanl
Jones's at the cross roads in Wake County provided the
University
was fixed at said Nathaniel Jones's.

Then proceeded to view Newhope Chappel Hill in orrange County.

Novr 6th

Recd offers of donations of
lands to the amount of 1390 Acres of land, eight
hundred and forty of which lie on Chappel Hill or adjoining
thereto and the remainder within 4 or 5 milesor thereabouts.

Novemr 7, 8 and 9th

Recd also subscriptions for
donations in money to the amount of £798.
or thereabouts; but it must be observed these
donations both money & land are conditional,
that is to say that the University shall be
established on Chappel Hill for
the seat of the University.

Same day several persons executed Deeds for their
respective lands donations to the University
viz.

MrThomas Connelly who subscribed
100 Acres or thereabout, & Mr. William
McCauley who
subscribed 100 Acres could not immediately convey
but have promissed to execute Deeds &
deliver them to MrJames Hogg who
will transmit to the board.

MrJohn Hogan
entered into a contract to make & deliver
150,000 bricks at 40/ pr m. as
pr Contract.

MrHogan also
presented proposals for leasing some of the land on
the Chappel Hill which are
submitted to the board.

MrEdmund Jones
made proposals for supplying plank and lumber which
are presented to the board.

The Commissioners reported they had granted a warrant in favor of Mr
Hogan on the Treasurer of the board of Trustees for the sum of
one hundred pounds in part pay for 150 thousand bricks to be delivered at
the seat of the University by said Hogan whereupon resolved this
board do concur therewith.

On motion resolved that MrDavie, MrMcCorkle, MrJones, MrAshe and MrSitgreaves be a Committee to prepare an
ordinance for carrying into effect the report of the Commissioners for
fixing on the spot for the public buildings,

And that MrJones, MrSitgreaves, Mr.
Smith, MrHarget
and MrWilliams be a Committee to report on the plan of the buildings of
the University,

And that MrMcCorkle, MrStone, MrAshe, MrMoore and MrHay be a Committee to report a plan of education.

On motion of MrHarget
resolved that MrDaniel be allowed the sum of eight pounds for
surveying and furnishinga plot of the land
granted to the Trustees of the University, and that the Treasurer pay the same.

Received the resignation of Charles
Johnston Esqr. which being read was accepted.

The board adjourned to 5 OClock to morrow evening.

Wednesday 5th Decmr the board
met according to adjournment.

MrJones from
the Committee to prepare an ordinance to ratify the proceedings of the
Commissioners &c. presented the following which being read was
concurred with.

An ordinance to ratify the proceedings of the Commissioners appointed by an
ordinance of the board of Trustees at Hillsborough in August 1792
to carry into effect an act of the General Assembly entituled "An
act for establishing an University in this State.

Whereas the Commissioners appointed by the ordinance aforesaid, for the
purposes therein mentioned did meet in November last in Chatham and view thevarious situations which were put in
nomination for the seat of the University within the limits
prescribed; and thereafter and after receiving offers of donations of land
and money to a considerable amount from the people of Orange County to the
president and Trustees of the University, all conditional that the University
shall be established on Newhope Chappel Hill in Orange County aforesaid, Did
Unanimously determine that Newhope Chappil Hill aforesaid shall be the seat of
the University of North Carolina. Be it ordained
by the president and said Trustees of the said University, that the Commissioners proceedings aforesaid in the
premisses shall be and they are hereby ratified and confirmed and the said
Newhope Chappel
Hill shall be and it is hereby declared to be the seat of the
University of North Carolina.

And whereas John
Hogan gave 200 Acres of land to the president and board of
Trustees of the University, Benjamin Yergan 51 Acres,
Matthew McCauley 150 Do, Christopher
Barbee 221 Acres, Edmund Jones 200 Do, Mark
Morgan 107 Do, Jno. Daniel 107 Do, Hardy Morgan 125 Do, & William McCauley 100 acresto promote the
institution. Be it ordained that the said John Hogan, Benjamin Yergan, Matthew McCauley, Christopher Barbee, Edmund Jones, Mark Morgan, Jno
Daniel, Hardy Morgan and William
McCauley in consideration of the
Donations aforesaid shall have the respective privilege of having one
Student educated at the said University free from any expence of
tuition.

MrDavie presented an ordinance for
appointing Commissioners to erect the buildings of the University
and lay of a Town adjacent thereto which was read & ordered to lay
on the Table.

Recd the petition of Wm Orr which being read was referred to
a Committee of three viz. MrHaywood, MrMcCorkle and MrHay.

Recd also the petition of Preaud which was read & referred to the
above Committee & ColoDavie added
thereto.

MrMcCorkle from the Committee to
whom it was referred to consider of and report a plan for the education of
Youth in the University ofNorth Carolina presented the following report.

That taking into consideration the uncertainty of the time
when the buildings of the University will be compleated, as also that the
State of our Funds at such time, is at present intirely
unkown — deem it premature to offer any
engagements as to stipend or salary: but in general beg
leave to remark that (unless the active funds of the
institution shall amount beyond the present estimate
conceived by Your Committee) the pursuits of literature and
Science should on the first institution be confined to the
following objects — The study of languages
particularly the English. The acquirement of Historical
knowledge ancient and modern. The Study of the Belles
letters. Mathematics and Natural Philosophy, the improvement
of the intellectual powers including a rational system of
logic and moral philosophy, Information in Botany to which
should be added a competent knowledge in the theory and
practiceof Agriculture best
suited to the climate and Soils of this State. The
principles of Architecture these
are enquiries to which your committee beg leave to submit
their opinion that the attention of the students should be
early directed, in which should the board concur, Your
Committee would further suggest the propriety of the board
making public their designs — that such literary
characters as may think proper to be ingaged in the
instruction of Youth in the University and conversant with these branches of
literature and science may make their desires known to this
board — that the pretensions of the several
applicants may be inquired into and appointments accordingly
made at such time as the University may be ready for the reception of
Teachers and Students, With respect to what number of
Teachers or professors it would be proper to engage, Your
Committee decline giving an opinion as competent salaries
must be provided for them, and the ability of the board of Trustees in this
particular must depend upon the future state of their funds
& As early as practicable Your Committee beg leave
further to recommend that steps be taken to procure an
apparatus for experimental Philosophy and Astronomy. In this
they would include a set of Globes Barometers Thermometers
MicroscopeTelescope Quadrant
prismatic Glass Air pump and an Electrical Machine[.] A Library
Your Committee are also of opinion should be procured but
the choice of books will perhaps come more immediately
within the province of the faculty of the University Your Committee
have however taken the liberty to mention the apparatus and
Library that such Gentlemen as intend to become benefactors
of the institution by presenting particular parts of either
may be induced to come forward, Your Committee further add
that they are of opinion that no accurate Idea can be formed
of the terms upon which Students will be admitted but hope
they will be such as together with the system of education
will merit the patronage of the public.

Saml McCorkle Chn

The board taking the foregoing report into consideration resolved that
they do concur therewith.

On motion resolved that the Committee appointed to consider of and report a
plan for the conducting of education in the University
be required to publish in such papers as they may think proper, that they
are authorized to receive proposals from such Gentlemen as may incline to
undertake to teach the different branches mentioned in the report of the
said Committee and that they make inquiry into the characters and
qualifications of the applicants and report to the next meeting of this
board.

A book entitled "the works of the right revered father in God Thomas Wilson D.D. Lord Bishop of
Sodor and Man" was
presented to the board by the HonleJohn Sitgreaves Esqr
agreeably to a resolution of the Congress of the United Statespassed March 22nd. 1785
which was accepted.

The board adjourned to 5 OClock tomorrow evening.

Thursday 6th Decr

The board met according to adjournment.

The board adjourned to 5 OClock tomorrow evening.

Friday 7th Decr

The board met according to adjournment.

The board adjourned untill 5 O.Clock tomorrow evening.

Saturday 8th Decer

The board met according to adjournment.

MrDavie moved that the ordinance for
appointing Commissioners to erect the buildings of the University
and lay off a Town adjacent thereto might be read which being amended was
passed into an ordinance of the board which is as follows.

An ordinance for appointing Commissioners to erect the buildings of the University and lay off a Town adjacent thereto.

Be it ordained by the trustees of the University of
North Carolina and it is hereby ordained accordingly that seven
Commissioners shall be appointed by ballot out of the trustees of the University and they or a majority of them are hereby authorized
to allott and lay off in the most pleasant and commodious part of the Tract
already established by the Commissioners and an ordinance of this board
as the seat of the said University a proper quantity of
Land to erect the buildings of the said University upon And they
are also hereby authorized and required to lay off and survey adjacent
thereto a town containing twenty-four lots of two acres each and six lots of
four acres each and the said Commissioners are hereby authorized and
directed to sell and dispose of the said lots at public vendue on twelve
monthscredit the purchaser giving bond with
proper Security for the payment of the purchase Money and the said
Commissioners or a majority of them are hereby authorized to make the
necessary conveyances to secure the fee Simple of the said lots to the
purchasor or purchasors.

And be it further ordained that the said Commissioners or a majority of them
be and they are hereby directed and empowered to cause to be built on the
Ground allotted for that purpose a House or Houses sufficient if practicable
from the sum appropriated for that purpose to accomodate fifty students and
for the purpose of discharging the expences of building the said House and
such office or out houses as they may deem indispensibly necessary necessary
the said Commissioners are authorized to draw on the Treasurer of the University from time to time as they deem proper for any sum or
sums not exceeding in the whole the sum of five thousand pounds, which
drafts the Treasurer is hereby directed to pay and he shall be allowed for
the same in settlement. And the said Commissionersshall make or cause to be made a plan of the said Town and
report the same And all their proceedings to the next meeting of the board of
Trustees.

It was moved to proceed to elect Commissioners to superintend the buildings
of the University whereupon MessrsAlfred MooreWm R.
DavieFredk HargetThos BlountAlex MebaneJohn Williams and John Haywood
were chosen.

On motion resolved that William
Orr settle his account for monies received as a purchasing Commissary
with the Comptroller of the public accounts and that Adlai Osborne Esqr attorney of the board for the Districts of Salisbury and
Morgan allow and endorse a
credit on the bond of the said William
Orr agreeable to such settlement.

On motion resolved that the Secretary publish under the direction of the
President in the North Carolina Journal an account of the donationsmade to the University, mentioning the names of the persons making such
donations and the sums, land and other property given by such person.

On motion resolved that the Trustees shall distribute in their
respective Districts Subscription papers for the purpose of promoting
donations to the University and make return thereof to the
next meeting of this board together with such of the former
subscription and donation papers as remain in their Districts.

On motion resolved that the consideration of the petition of MrPreaud be deferred
and in the meantime that the President be required to write to some of our
Members in Congress requesting them to enquire of the Secretary of State the
meaning and intention of the Treaty of Amity and Commerce between the United States and
France by these
words of the 11th article — "and
their Heirs subjects of the said UnitedStates whether in France or elsewhere may succeed to goods movible and
immovible ab intestato, without &c.
Whether it was contemplated that the subjects of France should succeed to real property
in this Country as well as personal — And whether any or what
determinations have been had upon that point in any of the States.

On motion resolved that the thanks of this board be transmitted by the
president to EsqrFrederick W. Marshal for his communication on the buildings of
the University.

Resolved that the Treasurer be directed to pay to the Commissioners for
fixing the seat of the University their several charges
for their expences while ingaged in that business upon producing their
accounts to him.

MrHarget
presented a proposal from John Hogan whichwas read and
rejected.

Received the resignation of EsqrJohn Craven as Treasurer to the board of
Trustees of the University — Whereupon
the board proceeded to ballot for one to fill that vacancy and MrWalter Alves was unanimously chosen.

On motion of MrBlount resolved that the president of the board give notice to
our late Treasurer MrJohn Craven so soon as MrAlves shall have
complyed with the requesites of his office and direct him to pay over to the
said Alves the
money &c. in his hands and at the same time return him the thanks of
the board for his services.

The board adjourned until 5 OClock Tuesday evening

Tuesday 11th Decemr

The board met according to adjournment.

The board adjourned until Friday Evening 5 OClock.

Friday 13th Decm 1792.

The board met according to adjournmnt.

The adjourned until the second Monday in December next to meet at Fayetteville.